SAVANNAH, Ga.- In a game that was labeled the "River Rivalry", the Savannah State University women's basketball team took on the upstart University of South Carolina-Beaufort women's basketball team in Savannah's EnMarket Arena as part of the Savannah Hoops Invitational on November 21, 2023.

The game started out close but the Lady Tigers pulled away with a strong second half as they pushed their way past USCB 81-53, before a crowd of 845.

Savannah State has been playing basketball since the late 1920's while the Sand Sharks are in their inaugural season.

In the end, it was SSU dominating the contest as they out-rebounded the Sand Sharks 53 to 37. The Lady Tigers also scored 16 points off 17 USCB turnovers, scored 23 second chance points and outscored the visitors from the South Carolina Lowcountry in the paint 52 to 26.

Savannah State also received strong production from its bench, outscoring the Sand Shark reserves 28-10.

The first quarter was competitive, with neither team getting a leader larger than three points.

With the game tied at 15, Jacquece Alston hit a free throw for Savannah State with two seconds left and Talia Hamilton hit a jumper at the buzzer to put SSU ahead 18-15.

A jumper by Amari Heard put SSU in front by five to start the second quarter but a 6-0 spurt by the Sand Sharks gave USC-Beaufort a 21-20 edge with 6:49 on the clock.

Savannah State finished the remainder of the half with a 21-7 run, limiting the Sand Sharks to just two field goals as they went into the break with a 41-28 cushion.

The third quarter was much like the second quarter with the Lady Tigers outscoring USCB 21-10.

SSU started the second half with a 10-0 run to build a 51-28 lead with 7:28 showing on the clock.


USCB was able to get their deficit down to 20 with a little over two minutes left in the quarter but a jumper by Aniaya Donaldson and a layup by Hamilton to close out the quarter gave Savannah State a 62-38 leading entering the fourth quarter.

Savannah State's lead never dipped below 23 in the fourth quarter.

Heard and Amani Hamilton both ended the game for Savannah State with 14 points and nine rebounds. Amani Hamilton also had three steals.

Mya Byrd and Ja'Siiyah Holmes had 13 points apiece. Byrd dished out six assists while Holmes had seven rebounds and four blocks.


Mahkayla Premo led USCB (1-3) with a game-high 16 points.

Savannah State (2-0) will return to action on Nov. 25 as they open up conference play against Kentucky State University at 2 p.m. in Tiger Arena.